CarlingNet - No 1 for Match Reports

Chelsea v Coventry 24/08/96 3.00

Chelsea                 (1) 2 Coventry                (0) 0 FT
Leboeuf 29                    
Vialli 74

Gianluca Vialli opened his Premiership account with the thumping strike that secured the Stamford Bridge points, but 10-man Coventry were still left screaming sky blue murder over Frank Leboeuf's opener.

Viallia had seen compatriot Roberto Di Matteo grab Chelsea's first goal of the season against Middlesbrough on Wednesday.

And when Steve Clarke chipped into his path just inside the box 16 minutes from time the former Juventus ace showed just how to finish with a thunderbolt rising strike that flew past Steve Ogrizovic into the top corner.

It was the cue for the Chelsea players to join in the new Blues celebration routine, Vialli the Roman emperor on his sedan chair calling for a slave, but Coventry did not find it funny.

Ron Atkinson and his team were rightly brooding over the outrageous goal Leboeuf had scored in the 29th minute.

When Ogrizovic, who had just saved from Leboeuf, caught the ensuing corner, he looked to release Eoin Jess.

Dan Petrescu simply stuck out a hand to prevent the ball reaching the Scot, but amazingly referee Paul Danson and his officials saw nothing wrong and allowed play to go on.

Chelsea now had possession, and when Erland Johnsen clipped the ball in from the right the 28-year-old French sweeper steamed in to plant his header into the bottom corner.

The balloon went up as Atkinson, Gordon Strachan and the rest of the Coventry bench raced from their dug-out to fume at the referee's assistant Mr Hegley, with reserve team coach Gary Pendrey dragged away.

Atkinson's players surrounded the referee, Ogrizovic running from his goal into the Chelsea half in pursuit of the official, demanding how he could allow the goal to stand after so blatant a handball.

Their frenzied complaints saw the keeper and Gary McAllister booked and when Liam Daish, earlier cautioned for a crude foul, said something else to Mr Hegley he was shown the red card.

Coventry were not content to leave it at that, McAllister one of four players surrounding all three officials at the interval, with the trio escorted down the tunnel by a 10-strong protective cordon.

Despite a hat-full of chances, Mark Hughes spurning three inside the first nine minutes for Ruud Gullit's team, Vialli and Dennis Wise also going close and Noel Whelan, back after injury, and Jess a fraction away at the other end, Leboeuf's effort was the only goal of the first period.

Mr Danson's book was already nearly full at that stage, Johnsen, Clarke and David Burrows having joined the others in falling foul of him, and with passions boiling over he might have expected to be even busier after the break, although the only addition saw Leboeuf cautioned for handball.

Perhaps that was why Gullit withdrew teenager Jody Morris at the break, Craig Burley coming on, and it was clear that Coventry, with Regis Genaux filling in for Daish at the back, were fired up.

Dion Dublin was a whisker over from McAllister's cross and then when a Whelan flick put the former Leeds man away, Dmitri Kharine excelled himself to parry the Scot's cross-shot.

Chelsea were themselves still dangerous, Italians Vialli and Roberto Di Matteo both denied by terrific stops by Ogrizovic, but it was Coventry, inspired by McAllister, who were looking the more likely, despite their man disadvantage.

But then Vialli ended all the doubts with his piledriver. Substitute Craig Burley was also foiled by Ogrizovic, and although Dublin should have scored from McAllister's pass four minutes from time, Chelsea held on.